Label dispenser



June 18, 1968 c. R. SHORT 3,388,830

LABEL DISPENSER Filed April 6, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'I'OR CHARLES R. SHORT ATTORNEY June 18, 1968 c. R. SHORT 3,388,830

LABEL DISPENSER Filed April 6, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 T I G :3 2\ 1m V5 2' H 23 -25 7 \7 INVENTOR. CHARLES R. SHORT BY JW AT TORNE Y June 18, 1968 Filed April 6, 1967 C. R. SHORT LABEL DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CHARLES R. SHORT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,388,830 LABEL DISPENSER (Iharles R. Short, Cupertino, Califl, assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 628,895 6 Claims. (Cl. 221-73) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A label dispenser that fits into the hand for dispensing labels in a sequential manner wherein a pawl mechanism allows one label at a time to be dispensed, and wherein information provided on the label is easily readable through a magnifying lens for the selection of articles in accordance with indicia imprinted on the labels.

Background of the invention It has been found advantageous to develop a dispenser of labels for instructing an operator thereof to select warehouse items in accordance with information imprinted on the labels. The labels can be printed on a computer device in accordance with the arrangment of stock in a warehouse or the like, so that an operator in dispensing the labels one at a time for application to an item or the like can be instructed and guided throughout the warehouse in accordance with the indicia appearing on the labels.

It is advantageous for the label dispenser to operate in a simple and facile manner so that the operator has only to glance at the dispenser to determine Where and in what quantity of warehouse items that he is to select to fill an order or the like. The label so dispensed may then be applied to the item selected, and this label aflixed to the item can then be later read by an automatic reader or the like elsewhere in a warehouse system.

In the preferred embodiment, labels are sequentially secured one to the other in roll form for easy insertion within the case of a label dispenser. It is within the scope of the invention that said labels could also be in zig-zag strips and placed in the label dispenser ease and dispensed in a simple and facile manner.

Also in the preferred embodiment adhesive labels having a protective backing strip are disclosed wherein the backing strip is peeled away from the label by the operator in using the label dispenser. When the backing strip has been removed the adhesive backing of the label is exposed and the label may be readily attached or affixed to a selected item.

Also it is disclosed that labels with said adhesive backing may be dispensed even though there is no additional backing strip.

The label dispenser is provided with structure for assuring that only a pre-determined number of labels is dispensed upon operation by an operator. Normally, one label at a time is dispensed for application to a selected item.

A viewer associated with the dispenser enables the operator to readily view the label to be dispensed and the information or indicia thereon. In the event that the dispenser is used in darkened area, an illuminating means is provided for the label dispenser.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the label dispenser with the case in open position.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the case in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevation view in enlarged 3,388,830 Patented June 18, 1968 scgle of the dispenser of FIG. 2 prior to emergence of a la el;

FIGURE 4 is a partial elevation view on the order of FIG. 3, but showing partial emergence of a label from the dispenser;

FIGURE 5 is a partial elevation view on the order of FIG. 3, but showing a dispensed label;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of a modification of the dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of labels to be used in the dispenser of FIG. 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of labels to be used in the modification of FIG. 6.

uoydyosaq Referring to FIGURE 1 a portable label dispenser 10 is disclosed having an outer casing 11 and a cover member 12 hingeably mounted thereto as at hinge member 13. The outer casing 11 and cover member 12 in the preferred embodiment are made of aluminum but may be of other metals, plastics or the like. Belt clips 5 are secured to the back of said casing to facilitate attaching the dispenser 10 to an operators belt or the like.

By opening cover member 12, interior chamber 14 of casing 11 is made accessible for loading and containing a quantity of labels. In the preferred embodiment a roll of labels 15 is disclosed, but it is within the scope of the invention to store a quantity of labels in a strip in zig-zag fashion within chamber 14.

The roll of labels 15 located within chamber 14 is fed over the surface 16 of rocker plate 17, pivotally mounted as at pivot means 18. As the labels 15 are pulled over surface 16 by an operator, the labels are viewable through an opening 19 in the outer casing 11. A magnifying lens 20 is secured over opening 19 by a collar means 21 as by fasteners 22.

Normally, the labels 15 are provided with printed indicia as shown in FIG. 7, and it is the printed indicia that is viewable by an operator through lens 20. The information on the label may serve many purposes, but it is useful in informing the operator of the items to be selected from the warehouse, and when the label is applied to the item selected, the printed indicia is of further use as to the distribution of the selected item.

When the labels 15 are placed on surface 16 of rocker plate 17, a backing strip 23 as a lead for the labels is brought downwardly from the forward end of the rocker plate 17 and threaded over surface 24 of casing 11. Cover 12 being hinged as at 13, and having members 12a and 12b closes on the casing 11 with members 12a and 12b acting to maintain backing strip 23 contiguous of surface 24.

A pawl member 25 is also pivotally mounted on casing 11 within interior chamber 14 wherein the pawl member 25 is engageable with the labels on backing strip 23. A spring 26 urges pawl member 25 toward the labels at 25a, and away from the labels at 25b. When the backing strip 23 is pulled downwardly by (as viewed in the drawings) the rocker guide plate 17 pivots in a counterclockwise direction so that pawl member 25 is positioned to urge 25b against the label subjacent thereto. As the label is pulled along by pulling on the backing strip, the portion 25b will drop between adjacent labels and resistance is offered to the pulling action as the edge of a label contacts portion 25b, thereby informing the operator that a single label has been dispensed.

As disclosed in FIGURE 3, the pawl portion 25b is away from label 15 before any pulling force is exerted on backing strip 23. By pulling on backing strip 23 as disclosed in FIG. 2, the rocker plate 17 is pivoted counterclockwise about pivot 18 to cause the label 15 on the rocker plate 17 to come into contact with pawl portion 25b. As the pull on the backing strip is continued, a label 15 begins to peel from the backing strip as at A in FIG. 4. The pawl portion 25b is urged into the space B (see FIG. between adjacent labels and the leading edge of the label exerts a resistance to the pulling tension at 25b at the time a complete label is dispensed as at A. The label momentarily adheres to hinge member 12a for removal therefrom by the operator. Note that the next label is viewable through the lens.

Reference is now made to the modification shown in FIG. 6 wherein a strip of labels 30 are provided. The strip of labels 30 have an adhesive backing but no backing strip. The surface 32 of rocker plate 31 is coated with Teflon or the like to prevent adherence of the labels to the surface of rocker plate 31. As there is no carrier strip, the labels are pulled out through the casing opening as at A until the pawl 33 engages notch (see FIG. 8) between labels. Then the forward label 30 is torn off, and the rocker plate is urged into position C to allow the labels to again be pulled over the rocker plate. The spring 34 urges the rocker plate 31 in a counterclockwise direction around pivot 35.

Further, the magnifying lens 20 of FIG. 6 is illurned by lighting device 40 comprising a lamp 41 energized by a battery 42 upon movement of switch 43. The lighting device 40 is shown asan integral part of casing 11, and is useful in darkened warehouse areas for illuminating the label indicia below the lens 20.

Thus, a label dispenser and a modification thereof has been described by way of illustration, but the invention is to be interpreted in view of the overall disclosure and the appended claims.

Having completed a detailed description of the invention so that those skilled in the art could practice the same, I claim:

1. A device for viewing and dispensing labels that come seriatim in an elongated strip with notches located between each individual label, said device comprising a casing having an interior chamber in which the elongated strip of labels are stored and an opening from which the labels can be withdrawn; said casing having a window through which a label can be viewed before withdrawal; means positioned within said casing for guiding the elongated strip to a position opposite the window and towards the opening for withdrawal from the casing; means positioned within said casing for engaging within the notches between labels to retain the elongated strip in a position where one label is visible through the window; and means for releasing said notch engaging means to permit withdrawal. of the elongated strip to remove the one label .and position a following label in alignment with the window.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein said means for guiding the elongated strip include an arcuate rocker plate.

3. A device as described in claim 2, wherein said means engaging the notches between labels include a pawl member pivotally mounted opposite the arcuate rocker plate.

4. A device as described in claim 3, wherein said means for releasing the pawl member include the arcuate rocker plate which ispivotally mounted and a spring biasing the pawl member.

5. A device for viewing and dispensing labels that come seriatim in an elongated strip with notches located between individual labels which have a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing and are mounted on a backing strip, the labels being adapted to be peeled away from the backing strip by bending the backing strip substantially said device comprising a casing having an interior chamber in which the elongated strip of labels are stored, an opening from which the labels can be withdrawn and a second opening from which the backing strip can be withdrawn; said casing having a window with a magnification lens through which the labels can be viewed before withdrawal; a rocker plate pivotally mounted within the casing for guiding the elongated strip to a position opposite the window and towards the opening for withdrawal of labels from the casing; a pawl member positioned within the casing for engaging within the notches between labels to stop withdrawal of the elongated strip in a position where one label is centered for visibility through the window; and a spring urging the pawl member into a position allowing the labels to pass thereunder, said rocker plate being pivoted by the pull of the backing strip upon withdrawal from the casing and thereby forces the pawl member against the spring into a position to engage within the notch between labels.

6. A device for viewing and dispensing labels that come seriatim in an elongated strip with notches located between each individual label, said device comprising a casing having an interior chamber in which the elongated strip of labels are stored and an opening from which the labels can be withdrawn; said casing having a window through which a label can be viewed before withdrawal; a rocker plate pivotally mounted within the casing for guiding the elongated strip to a position opposite the window and towards the opening for withdrawal from the casing; a pawl member positioned within the casing for engaging within the notches between labels to stop withdrawal of the elongated strip in a position where one label is centered for visibility through the window; a spring urging the pawl member into a position allowing the labels to pass thereunder; and a spring urging the rocker plate into a position in contact with the pawl member causing the pawl member to engage within the notch between labels; said rocker plate extending outside of the casing and adapted to be elevated by hand when removing labels to trip the pawl member and release the elongated strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,043,051 6/1936 Boden 221-71 X 2,341,368 2/1944 Flood 221-70 X 2,832,506 4/1958 Hatcher 221- X 3,321,105 5/1967 Marano 22l73 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,388,830 June 18, 1968 Charles R. Short It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 15, "UOP1dFI3SQU" should read Description Column 3, line 18, after "notch" insert 34 Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

